Target holder



June 9, 1959 L. WILLIAMS TARGET HOLDER Filed Dec. 24,

INVENTOR. M/V/fi A. [WW/ W5 United Sttes Patent TARGET HOLDER Melvin L.Williams, Lansing, Kans.

Application December 24, 1956, Serial No. 630,395

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-402) This invention relates to a target holder andhas for its primary object the provision of lightweight, fullycollapsible structure that may be easily transported to a point of useand thereupon quickly set up for use without need of tools or auxiliarystructure to hold the same in an upright position.

It is the most important object of the instant invention to provide atarget holder in the nature of an extensible frame having novel legmeans as a part thereof for permitting erection at selected heights andto permit sizing of the frame to fit the target to be mounted thereon.

Another important object is to provide a target holder of theaforementioned character that is in turn provided with novel means forquickly attaching the target thereto and taking the form ofreciprocable, spring-loaded clamps that releasably hold the target inplace against a like number of inward projections or plates spacedstrategically throughout the periphery of the frame.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a target holder made pursuant tothe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on lineIV-IV of Fig. 1.

Target is shown fragmentan'ly in Fig. 1 of the drawing supported by apolygonal frame broadly designated by the numeral 12 and including apair of side members 14 and 16, a top member 18 and a bottom member 20.Gussets 22 assist in presenting a rigid connection of the members 18 and20 to the members 14 and 16.

When the target 10 (made from paper or other suitable material) issupported by the frame 12, it bears directly against the gussets 22 aswell as against additional inwardly extending elements rigid to theframe 12 and, like the gussets 22, taking the form of small plates 24.All of the elements 22 and 24 are preferably provided with roughenedfaces cooperable with clamps 26 in firmly holding the target 10 inplace.

The clamps 26 are L-shaped, there being a clamp 26 for each element22--24 respectively, presenting a finger 28 normally overlapping thecorresponding element 22- 24 and a shaft 30 extending at right angles tothe finger 28. Each shaft 30 is reciprocable and rotatable within abearing 32 on the frame 12 and is provided with a finger knob 34receiving one end of a spring 36 coiled about the shaft 30 and engagingthe bearing 32. A rubber tip or the like 38 on each finger 28 engagesthe target 10 and holds the latter clamped against the correspondingelement 22-24.

Each side member 14 and 16 is in the nature of a tube and has a leg 40slidable therein and extending downwardly from the lowermost endthereof. A set collar 42 on each tube 1416 releasably holds thecorresponding leg 40 against sliding movement and, therefore, inadjusted positions.

2,890,051 Patented June 9, 1959 A pair of rear legs 44 and 46 normallyextend downwardly and rearwardly from the top member 18 and eachincludes a pipe 48 and a bar 50 slidable. within the pipe 48 andextending beyond the uppermost end of the latter. Set collars 52 on thepipes 48 releasably hold the same against reciprocable movement relativeto their bars 50. Each bar 50 has, a sleeve 54 slidable and rotatable onthe upper member 18 to the end that the legs 44 and 46 may be shiftedtoward and away from each other and the angularity thereof adjusted asdesired.

The upper member 18 and the. lower member 20 are identical and eachincludes a pair of rods 56 and 58 having collars 60 and 62 respectivelyrigidly connected to the innermost ends thereof. As best seen in Fig. 3of the drawing, collar 60 is slidable on the rod 58 and the collar 62 isslidable on the rod 56. A set collar 64 between the collars 60 and 62 isrigid to the rod 56 and slidable on the rod 58 when released.

From the foregoing it is clear that when the holder is in the completelycollapsed condition, tubes 14 and 16 are moved together to the limit oftheir paths of travel, pipes 48 are held at the uppermost ends of theirpaths of travel by set collars 52, and legs 40 are held telescopedwithin the tubes 14 and 16 by set collars 42. In this condition theentire holder is relatively small and can be easily transported to apoint of use.

When it is desired to place the holder in use, the set collars 64 arereleased and the distance between the legs 14 and 16 vary to properlyreceive the target 10, whereupon the set collars 64 are tightened. Theheight of the holder is adjusted by extending the legs 40 and the pipes48 and thereupon tightening the set collars 42 and 52.

The fingers 28 of the clamps 26 may be swung out of the way by graspingthe knob 34 to rotate the shafts 30 within the bearings 32, whereuponthe target 10 is placed on the elements 22 and 24. The operatorthereupon pushes inwardly on the knobs 34 and therefore, the shafts 30,against the action of spring 36, and rotates knobs 34 to spring thefingers 28 into position overlapping the target 10, and releases theclamps 26 so that springs 36 clamp the resilient tips 38 tightly againstthe target 10 to hold the latter against the roughened surfaces of theelements 22 and 24. Such surfaces cooperating with the rubber tips 38hold the target 10 in a taut condition both horizontally and verticallywithin the open frame 12 and the entire assembly is ready for use.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A target holder comprising a continuous polygonal frame having a pairof side tubes, a top member and a bottom member, each member including apair of rods provided with collars interconnecting the same for movementof the tubes toward and away from each other, one collar of each memberbeing provided with a releasable fastener for holding the rods againstrelative movement; a leg slidable in each tube respectively andextending downwardly from the lowermost end thereof, each tube having areleasable fastener for holding its leg against sliding movementtherein; and a pair of legs normally extending downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the top member and each including a pipe having a bar slidabletherein, each bar having a sleeve rotatable and reciprocable on the topmember, each pipe having a releasable fastener for holding its baragainst sliding movement therein, said tubes and said members having aplurality of spaced, inwardly-extending elements and a clamp for eachelement respectively, each clamp having a spring biased L-shaped fingeroverlapping its element for holding a target thereagainst.

2. A target holder comprising a continuous polygonal frame having a pairof side tubes, a top member and a bottom member, each member including apair of rods provided with collars interconnecting the same for movementof the tubes toward and away from each other, one collar of each memberbeing provided with a releasable fastener for holding the rods againstrelative movement; a leg slidable in each tube respectively andextending downwardly from the lowermost end thereof, each tube having areleasable fastener for holding its leg against sliding movementtherein; and a pair of legs normally extending downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the top member and each including a pipe having a bar slidabletherein, each bar having a sleeve rotatable and reciprocable on the topmember, each pipe having a releasable fastener for holding itsbaragainst sliding movement therein, said tubes and said members havinga plurality of spaced, inwardly-extending plates and a clamp for eachplate respectively for holding a target against the plates,

said frame having a bearing adjacent each plate respectively, the clampsbeing L-shaped, presenting a shaft, reciprocable and rotatable in thecorresponding bearing and a finger normally overlapping thecorresponding plate, there being springs coiled about the shafts foryieldably biasing the fingers toward the plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,160,753 Pickett Nov. 16, 1915 1,568,013 Warfield Dec. 29, 19252,048,155 Armantrout July 21, 1936 2,372,111 Norberg Mar. 20, 19452,538,118 Miller Ian. 16, 1951 2,562,089 Fishlove July 24, 19512,722,420 Adamson Nov. 1, 1955

